IN A BID to protect some of its housing stock in Highland Perthshire, Perth & Kinross Council could seek the status of a ‘pressured area’. The local authority might apply to the Scottish Executive to be allowed to suspend the Right to Buy for some – though not all - Council tenants. The suggestion is that this move could safeguard a small but particularly important number of houses.

Since the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, 50% of P&K housing stock has been sold to tenants. Since 2002 the authority has been empowered to designate any part of its patch, where social housing demand outstrips supply, as a ‘pressured area’ for a period up to 5 years.

Through this mechanism the Right to Buy is suspended only for those who became first time council tenants in the designated area, or who conducted transfers into the area, after 30 September 2002. There is no effect upon those who held council tencies there prior to that date.